Sweet seasonal tours offer chance to become sap savvy

Thursday

Feb 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 28, 2013 at 1:36 PM

If an average person's body weight in maple sap was boiled down, the resulting syrup might fill a shoe. That's one of the lessons imparted by guides at Dawes Arboretum during seasonal tours of the syrup-making process, which began last weekend and continue for the next two Saturdays.

Ken Gordon, The Columbus Dispatch

If an average person’s body weight in maple sap was boiled down, the resulting syrup might fill a shoe.

That’s one of the lessons imparted by guides at Dawes Arboretum during seasonal tours of the syrup-making process, which began last weekend and continue for the next two Saturdays.

The point is to educate people. And more people seem interested in learning.

“Last year, we had about 4,000 people come through,” said Jenny Pope, the arboretum’s education director.

“I think interest is increasing. There’s this whole movement now focusing on sustainability and urban farming. People are interested in making their own maple syrup, and they’re asking, ‘What can I do in my own backyard?’?”

People with enough maple trees and plenty of patience can make syrup. First, trees must be tapped for the sap, which then must be cooked for hours as it concentrates into syrup. About 40 gallons of sap will produce a gallon of syrup.

Dawes’ first maple trees were planted in 1917, and the arboretum began its syrup tours in 1966. Today, about 80 of its trees are tapped, Pope said — enough to provide samples but not enough to sell.

Dawes is open for self-guided tours of the sugar-making process daily from Feb. 23 to March 9. Guided tours will depart from the main shelter house at 2 p.m. Saturday and March 9.

The guided tours have benefits, Pope said.

“There are signs all along the trail, and there is always someone in the log cabin (where the boiling takes place),” Pope said. “But the tour guides sort of flesh it out. We each can give our own unique perspectives.

“For example, my background is in horticulture, so I can explain how the tapping process affects the tree.”Dawes isn’t the only place where people can watch syrup-making.

• Camp Lazarus in Delaware County is conducting its Maple Syrup Festival on Saturday and March 9. Organized by the Boy Scouts’ Simon Kenton Council, the 26th annual festival will also feature activities such as BB-gun shooting and tomahawk throwing.

“When it was first started, it was a way to explain how maple syrup was made,” said Brian Batchelder, event chairman. “Then, as time went on, we wanted to add some more fun things to do while (people are) out here, so they could make it a whole day.”

The festival attracts 800 to 1,000 people on each of the two weekends. (Details: 740-548-5502, www.camplazarus.org)

• The Stratford Ecological Center, also in Delaware County, will host a pancake breakfast and self-guided tours of the sugar process on March 9. (Details: 740-363-2548, www.stratfordecologicalcenter.org)